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DIY Farmhouse Island building plans

This post is in partnership with 3M

Over the years, we’ve had a lot of requests on how to build our kitchen island. So that’s what I’m sharing today – how to build a farmhouse style island. If you’ve never built a piece of furniture before, this is a super easy build with all straight cuts (or you can have them all done at your local lumber store.) With just a few basic tools you can build this farmhouse island from start to finish in about 2 hours.

DIY island building plans #damagefreeDIY

Materials Needed:

Supplies: Gather your supplies, including a Command Hooks, tape measure, 4 caster wheels, pencil, pocket hole jig, poly acrylic, a cordless drill and drill bits, palm sander and fine grit sand paper, paint, 1 1/4 inch wood screws, 1 1/2 inch pocket hole screws plus the following lumber pieces cut and sanded:

  • 4 pieces of 4×4 cut 35 inches long
  • 4 pieces of 1×4 cut 13 inches long
  • 3 pieces of 1×4 cut 17 5/16 inches long
  • 2 pieces of 1×4 cut 27 1/2 inches long
  • 4 pieces of 1×6 cut 36 1/2 inches long
  • 2 pieces of 1×6 cut 20 inches long
  • 5 pieces of 1×6 cut 13 inches long
  • Command wire hooks

Additionally you will need two scraps of 1×6, one 12 inches long and another at least 35 inches long.

Remember, if you do not own a compound miter saw (or feel uncomfortable cutting wood), most home improvement stores will make these cuts for you for a nominal fee.

Note: Follow all Command™ Brand package instructions for proper surface cleaning and prep, adhesive strip placement and recommended weight claims.

 

Step-by-Step Instructions: 

DIY farmhouse island building plans #damagefreeDIY

Step 1: Start by using a pocket hole jig to pre-drill holes into these pieces: 2 of the 1x4x27 1/2, 2 of the 1x4x13, 3 of the 1x4x17 5/16

DIY farmhouse island building plans #damagefreeDIY

Step 2: Begin assembling the island by attaching two of the 4x4s to the 27 1/2 inch 1×4, using the scrap of 1×6 as a spacer to inset the skirt on the legs using pocket hole screws.

DIY farmhouse island building plans #damagefreeDIY

Step 3: Attach one of the 34 1/2 inch 1x4s to the bottom of the legs, using the scrap of 1×6 as a spacer to get the bottom shelf even on each side (this will become the support for your bottom shelf.

DIY farmhouse island building plans #damagefreeDIY

Step 4: Predrill the holes and attach the board with 1 1/4 inch wood screws.

DIY farmhouse island building plans #damagefreeDIY

Step 5: Once two legs are attached at top and bottom, repeat the process on the other set of legs.

DIY farmhouse island building plans #damagefreeDIY

Step 6: Stand up both sets of legs, with the shelf braces on bottom to the inside of the island, and attach the 13 inch 1×4 with pocket hole screws at the top, the same way you attached the first skirt pieces – using a 1×6 scrap as a spacer.

DIY farmhouse island building plans #damagefreeDIY

Step 7: Next, attach a piece of the 13 inch 1×4 without a pocket hole by placing it between the 4x4s and attaching it to the shelf bracing. I used a piece of 1×6 as a guide to make sure the board was lined up flush with the edge of the 4×4 before pre-drilling and securing with 1 1/4 inch wood screws.

DIY farmhouse island building plans #damagefreeDIY

Step 8: Once you have all of the skirt and shelf support pieces attached on both sides, put the island down on your work surface and attach the top braces ( 3 pieces of 1x4x17 5/16) with pocket hole screws. Put the side pieces right next to the 4x4s laying flat and then use a tape measure to center the third piece, standing it upright to help support the frame. Attach the pieces to the frame with pocket hole screws

DIY farmhouse island building plans #damagefreeDIY

Step 9: Lay four pieces of 1x6x34 1/2 together on your work surface, making sure they are even on the ends, then put the frame on top – centering it with a tape measure. This will become the top – so be sure to put the piece of wood you’d like to show down.

DIY farmhouse island building plans #damagefreeDIY

Step 10: Attach the top to the frame by pre-drilling pilot holes through the flat braces on the frame and use 1 1/4 inch wood screws to secure every plank to the frame.

DIY farmhouse island building plans #damagefreeDIY

Step 11: Add caster wheels to the bottom of the legs by marking the holes with a pencil, then pre-drill pilot hole and attach the wheels to the legs with wood screws. Next, flip over the entire island so the bottom shelf can be attached.

DIY farmhouse island building plans #damagefreeDIY

Step 12: Place the pieces of 1x6x20 onto the shelf supports, then sit the 1x6x35 scrap of wood upright, just inside the legs and mark it on both sides from end to end. This will give you a guide on where to drill to add screws to attach the shelf.

DIY farmhouse island building plans #damagefreeDIY

Step 13: Once you remove the scrap, you’ll have a guide, so pre-drill holes in each side of the board in the center of your marks and attach the planks to the braces with 1 1/4 inch wood screws. Once this step is done the island is built. You can either paint the entire piece – or it can be painted on the base and use polyacrylic to seal the top (as shown.) Set aside to allow paint to fully cure, following the manufacturer’s instructions on the paint can. NOTE: Some paints may take up to 30 days before they are fully cured, so be sure to reference manufacturer’s instructions.

 

2 - clear command wire hooks

Step 14: To give the island just a bit more functionality, add on some Command Wire Hooks. Because this island can easily be moved indoors, this is the perfect way to add more uses to this project.

DIY farmhouse island building plans #damagefreeDIY

Step 15: Following package instructions, adhere one Command™ Clear Medium Wire Hook to the cart frame underneath the counter top. Repeat to add three more hooks around the frame.

DIY island building plans #damagefreeDIY

Once the project is complete, surprise dad this Father’s Day with a new, functional outdoor island – which is sure to make his grilling time easier!

*Thanks to 3M for partnering with me on this post. All ideas, words, photos and opinions are my own. Please use caution when using power tools.*

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Filed Under: DIY, farmhouse style

About Gina Luker

Gina Luker is a writer, photographer and lover of all things quirky. She's usually found with a drill in one hand and a cocktail in the other while blogging along the way. She's addicted to coffee, polka dots, rock stars, Instagram, and everything aqua.

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Comments

  1. Terry says

    May 24, 2015 at 5:10 am

    Thank you for the information I think this is a great idea for indoors and out

    Reply
  2. Angel says

    July 10, 2015 at 6:43 am

    Awesome!

    Reply
  3. Ana White Admin says

    November 12, 2015 at 2:18 pm

    Hi Gina,
    Your Farmhouse Island caught our eye and we just had to feature it! We hope you are as excited about the feature as we are, but if not let us know, and we’ll remove it lickety split!

    “Ana White and Team”

    Reply
  4. Miguel says

    August 24, 2016 at 11:12 pm

    It was great just forgot to add the 34 1/2 to the needed wood in the beginning just an extra trip to home depot overall its perfect

    Reply
    • Gina Luker says

      August 31, 2016 at 10:50 am

      Thanks awesome Miguel!

      Reply

Trackbacks

  1. This is How to Update Your Kitchen for Under $50 says:
    March 31, 2017 at 1:25 pm

    […] for a bigger impact? Maybe you want to try your own hand at building a new kitchen island. My plans for this one only takes about 2 hours to […]

    Reply

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